The hand-built Soldano SLO100 Super Lead Overdrive Head features a signal path of pure tube magic, including 2 independent preamp channels that deliver a full array of tones through 4 - 12AX7s. The SLO100 includes a Clean/Crunch switch. An additional bright switch draws out sparkling highs. The Overdrive channel beats the entire high gain pack with clear articulation, solid punch, and singing sustain. Channel jumps are footswitchable and noise-free. The Soldano SLO100 also features a 3-band EQ and 4 - 5881 tubes in the power section to make it a lethal weapon. Truly a rocker's masterpiece. Soldano includes a fully transferable lifetime warranty with the SLO100 Overdrive Head.

After a years of repairing, tweaking, and building tube guitar amplifiers, Michael Soldano unleashed the SLO-100 upon the public in 1987 and it became an instant classic. After a number of models found their way into the hands of Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Eddie Van Halen, and Lou Reed, American and English guitar amp manufacturers were scrambling to match the liquid gain and outrageous crunch of the magical Super Lead Overdrive.

FEATURES

The Soldano SLO-100 delivers the guitar tones you've always craved. Order today and put a real dynamo in your corner!

Yes, this amp is expensive, and yes, it does not offer as many features as many newer amps with newer designs, and yes, it is an old design by boutique amp...Read complete review

Yes, this amp is expensive, and yes, it does not offer as many features as many newer amps with newer designs, and yes, it is an old design by boutique amp standards.

There are, however, several reasons to buy this amp:

The Sound -- You get the Soldano SLO for it's characteristic smooth, rich, responsive, articulate sound that works so well in a band setting whether recording or playing out. Tweak the knobs -- this amp is versatile despite the apparent lack of bells and whistles.

The Lifetime Transferable Warranty -- Even if you buy used, Soldano will fix your amp. It's already a road warrior, and even if you're the fifth owner, that warranty is still good. You want that.

Mike Soldano -- The guy knows amps, and if you call the Soldano shop he may even answer the phone. And if he does, he'll treat you just like Eddie Van Halen, even if you're a complete nobody. He's good people.

It's not a cheap amp, but it will outlast you. Fads come and go, but great amps are forever.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

WAY overpriced!!

Don't get me wrong. This amp is INCREDIBLE. The tone is amazing. The quality is amazing. BUT, you can buy an EVH head for less which sounds JUST as good. A Marshall...Read complete review

Don't get me wrong. This amp is INCREDIBLE. The tone is amazing. The quality is amazing. BUT, you can buy an EVH head for less which sounds JUST as good. A Marshall JVM 4 channel head also costs less than the SLO100. So if you are gonna drop this much money on a head, compare the others because the extra price might not be worth it to you. It wasn't to me, I went with the EVH. Best bang for the BIG buck.

Used this bad boy at the studio. We aren't a metal band by any stretch. But we have a fair amount of parts in songs that require heavy tones. I brought in a Marshall TSL 100 and a Genz Benz El Diablo as well as a huge pedal board. We ended up using the Soldano for 80% of our heavy tones. Very rich saturation and breakup. Even with the gain down. We had a song that needed a very spoungey and the SLO ended up being the best option. It rendered most my my gear useless. I wouldn't use it for most clean tones (obviously its no Fender super sonic) but if you don't use clean sounds, this was the best amp in the studio. Very VERY articulate

Yes, this amp is expensive, and yes, it does not offer as many features as many newer amps with newer designs, and yes, it is an old design by boutique amp standards.

There are, however, several reasons to buy this amp:

The Sound -- You get the Soldano SLO for it's characteristic smooth, rich, responsive, articulate sound that works so well in a band setting whether recording or playing out. Tweak the knobs -- this amp is versatile despite the apparent lack of bells and whistles.

The Lifetime Transferable Warranty -- Even if you buy used, Soldano will fix your amp. It's already a road warrior, and even if you're the fifth owner, that warranty is still good. You want that.

Mike Soldano -- The guy knows amps, and if you call the Soldano shop he may even answer the phone. And if he does, he'll treat you just like Eddie Van Halen, even if you're a complete nobody. He's good people.

It's not a cheap amp, but it will outlast you. Fads come and go, but great amps are forever.

I bought this head to replace a SLO-100 I have had in the past. One you have played through one you will not be happy with lesser amps. I know there many pople who beleive the slo-100 and a 5150 sound similar, not true. In my band the other guitar player had a 5150 and the SLO-100 destroyed it for tone. We played stuff like Tool, SOAD, and Slayer. I was always getting comments about my awesome tone. The slo-100 punches through the mix live and doesnt sound mushy. Also the SLO-100 cabs are top notch. They destroy other good to high end cabs I have heard. I have 2 Lucky 13 4x12s with Vintages 30's. The low end coming from those cabs could drown out the bass if necessary.

For me, I wanted a high quality, durable head with a more straight forward approach (I did not want a whole bunch of bells and whistles). Above all. I wanted that classic 80's hi gain sound - the SLO was the perfect choice for me.Unbelievable tone and quality. I researched quite a bit online and decided to take the plunge on the Slo, very happy I did and can't see this amp ver leaving my possession. Hard to not appreciate the craftsmanship of the SLO; their customer service (Mike and Bill) matches to boot.Although this is not an inexpensive piece of equipment, the SLO is the highest quality one can purchase (I think of the head as an investment as well) and it comes with a life time transferrable warrenty. Iin my opinion, this increases the value and justifies the price.

I've had one of these for several years and every time I gig with it I'm not just happy, I'm thrilled! Articulation is superb and 64th notes ring clear and concise - you cannot outplay this amp. The tone is outstanding, and I get complimented on my tone every gig. The sustain is smooth and can be obtained at even low volumes; and by the way it has a Master Volume circuit that actually works and does not rob you of your tone or sustain like some of the other famous brand products. It weighs a lot less than other popular tube heads and it's tough too; I use a Power Soak set at (-9dB) and set my Master Volume at 10 and the channels to 7. That's cranked; louder than a jet plane without the Power Soak on. It has never complained. The effects loop works very well but the signal can be a bit hot for some effects, but the loop doesn't steal your tone either. I wish it had a built-in reverb but I put one in the effects loop and it sounds great. With the Gain control set at 2 to 3 the amp delivers more than enough distortion to satisfy any tone seaker from the classic rocker to heavy metal guru, but it has a lot more left in it after that. Turn it up and this amp will outshred the best of them. Also, the lifetime warranty is real: If it breaks, for any reason, they will fix it or replace it. Even at what it costs I have NEVER regretted buying this amp, and I would buy it again if it went missing, after my crying has stopped. I don't just like it, I love it! I have found true joy.

After years of doing research and trying different amps, I finally purchased the Soldano SLO 100, however, mine had the Depth mod and the Warren Haynes mod. I toyed around with the setting for a while until I found the tone I was looking for. I've tried different types of Marshall's and so forth but was never happy witht he results. I get a lot of compliments about my tone with this amp. When recording, I like to mix the sounds of the SLO with a 65 Twin Reverb Reissue.

I consider myself a professional gigging musician. I have been playing for several years and rely on it as part of my income. I have been through hundreds of amps, boutique and vintage. For years I was a die hard vintage amp user. Non master vintage Marshall Plexi?s & Fender Blackface?s were my main gigging & recording amps. I then went through a phase where I was buying and try the many boutique amps on the market today. Then for some reason I bought the Soldano SLO-100 on a whim three years ago. Honestly, I bought the amp knowing that I would probably turn around and eventually sell it and go back to my vintage amps. Boy was I wrong. This has been the best amp I have ever played and owned. This amp is not just for shredders and metal heads. I?m a Blues, Rock & Jam Band player. This amp has the best tone and works wonders with my Les Paul?s. Run the pre-amp on the overdrive channel real low and this amp will compete and surpass any boutique amp offered today. I consider the SLO the ?original? boutique amp. Now days players do not consider Soldano much. Maybe it?s because it was considered the amp of the 90?s. Do yourself a favor and buy the SLO-100. I just may be the last amp you will ever buy. Oh yeah, it?s an unstoppable work horse too. Incredibly reliable with consistant tone.

Don't get me wrong, the SLO-100 is a good amp, when you pay this much you'll be getting a quality product, but at this price you can get an amp with a lot more features at the same or better quality. In some cases you can even get a much better amp for less (Mesa Boogie). The 4 5881's sound good and you wont ever need any more power. Both channels sound top notch, very responsive eq settings. All in all, like I said, great quality, bad price, bad competitive design, and lack of features. If you really want one, buy one used since they haven't changed a thing about them in years and the warranty is transferable.

Nice reviews in here mentioning other amps that kids play, but those kids forgot to mention that each SLO is hand made, one at a time, and comes with a lifetime warranty that is transaferable. Read that last line again. End of story, the SLO is the best bang for the buck out there, your EVH and Marshalls have no support or warranty that is worth anything, they are mass produced. Marshalls are shipped in boats over to the US, the failure rate on their tubes is enormous because of that. You will be lucky if the dealer you brought those production amps from even talks to you again after you walk out the door. However, you can call and talk to Soldano himself. SLOs are a professional piece of music gear. I might add they completely smoke the competition in the lead category, nothing comes close. You have to pay for excellence, and this amp and this company are excellent.

Theres plenty of boutique amp makers like Dr Z, Divided by 13, 65 Amps, etc that do the whole handmade, point to point wired stuff that comes with a whole lot more versatility than this thing for a whole lot less. Mike Soldano is a great builder and this amp is certainly good, but in the year 2008, you gotta compete and this design is not very competitive.

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